NEWSLETTER  Vol 2 # 4 April, 2010.

Contents:

. Exco Members

. Editor’s Intro

. Important info. from W.C.C.U. Exco.

. Events - local

. Other important paddling events.

 Local Results

. News from the WCCU clubs

. Smalls

. Items of interest.

. Eskimo Rolls!

NB. The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the W.C.C.U. Executive Committee.

WCCU EXCO 2010

Go to www.wpcanoe.org.za – look under the heading “Committee”

Newsletter Editor’s Intro

On 7^th May, 2010, the following happened:

Ministers charged for water pollution

Criminal charges over the pollution of the country's water supply were laid against three Cabinet ministers at the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria on Friday 7^th May, 2010.

After laying the charges, TauSA chairman Louis Meintjes said the organisation had been forced to approach the police after Minister of Agriculture Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Mining Minister Susan Shabangu and Water Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, had repeatedly failed to address the problem.

"We want them to act and get the water clean... a snowball that gets too big is a runaway snowball," he said.

Meintjes said mines which used seven percent of the country's water supply were responsible for 75 percent of water pollution.

He said Sonjica should have acted in line with the National Water Act and that Shabangu should have known that mining, water supply and food security were directly linked.

He said the act provided that it was criminal for ministers to knowingly or unintentionally allow for natural resources to be jeopardised.

"If it's not the ministers, who is responsible?" – Sapa

A recent article in the Cape Times had this to say about the state of water pollution in RSA:

There are two issues at play here.
1 – Our sewage treatment plants are in a crap (pun intended) state and our municipalities’ lack of action is disturbing, but.
2 – There is something we can all be doing to assist; the less water we send to the sewage treatment works, the lighter the load, the easier it is for them to cope. So why send perfectly good irrigation water (in the form of grey water) down the drain, and then turn the tap on AGAIN to water the garden??? It’s crazy!!!

Is it happening that individuals are now finally sitting up and taking notice of the litter and filth all around us? Are we as paddlers actually doing anything about it – especially the muck we see and experience floating down the rivers, dams and vleis that we paddle upon or are we turning a blind eye and saying that it actually isn’t our problem? I’ve got news for you – it is your (health) problem and you don’t have to be a rocket-scientist to work out why either!

When was the last time you or you canoeing club involved in a litter clean-up? (My hand is up – I haven’t for years and I am embarrassed to admit it – Ed). And is it because you convinced yourself that ….’just what can little old me do anyway?’….You all know the Starfish story don’t you? If not, here it is again – a man walking on a beach that is covered with thousands of starfish, all dying in the sun, notices another man picking up starfish one by one and throwing them back into the sea. He asks, “What difference does it make that which you are doing?” to whom the reply was made…”It makes a difference to each starfish, and to me”….

So, what is it that we as individual paddlers can do? This is a question I am posing to you, the reader, as I, as your editor, am not in a position to suggest or make anything happen – but together, with good ideas, we can begin to make a difference.

Areas in which we can begin are many – I am involved in education and at the current and previous  senior boy’s schools that I have been working at, I am disgusted, on a daily basis, at the amount of litter that abounds on the campuses of these two schools. And these are supposed to be our future leaders! When did you as a paddler, who is also a parent, talk to your children about litter, rubbish – pollution? And when (or if) you did, what was the outcome of your discussion? Was it meaningful?

I was shocked some years ago when I asked a senior maths and science teacher, why the learners of the school in which he taught were not educated to pick up litter and put it in a bin. He replied…”But that would be doing someone out of a job!”…. I ask you! A man with a Masters degree in Mathematics.

Currently – 30 years on from its original concept, the Cape Town City Council, has re-introduced Zibi – the garbage-eating ostrich – remember the old jingle…”Zap it in a Zibi-can? Now it is ‘Zap it is a Zibi-bin”!.... notice the change in the size of the receptacle into which we should be dropping our litter. Is this an indictment against our city? Or rather, against us, because a city doesn’t drop/dump litter – people do. And, yes, I believe that it is the residents of the ‘fair Cape’ yeah, right!

Sure, it can be argued that the Western Cape is a long way from some places – for example, the Gulf of Mexico right now (out of sight and out of mind) and it is said that there is a floating ‘island’ of plastic litter measuring twice the size of Texas in the  middle of the Pacific Ocean – twice the size of Texas, is about the size of South Africa – just think about it – plastic litter stretching from Cape Point to Crooks Corner, where the Limpopo forms the boundary between RSA, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, from Sudan Bay to Orangeman  – frightening isn’t it.

So, the challenge is – what are we as Western Cape canoeists and paddlers going to do about the litter that is affecting us – and it is. Eric Farringer was laid low last week after swallowing some of the Berg River: numbers of Cape paddlers opt out of the Dusi – why? Dusi guts – I mean, who in their rightful mind puts themselves into such danger? The simple answer is that we all do, if we choose to paddle on any waters, because where such an element is found it is always at the lowest point of any landmass, into which drains pretty much everything and anything!

Let’s be proactive paddlers.

Rob MacLean

Media Liaison - W.C.C.U.

Important information from the W.C.C.U. Exco

# At this stage of the season, the WCCU Registration Officer, Rene’ Boehm, reports that WCCU has 410 registered members. At the same time in 2009, the number was 360! 261 more members will take WCCU past the highest number of paddlers ever registered with the union.

# Ref. the above – some 54 women have registered with the WCCU in 2010, which is wonderful. Congratulations to the clubs and registered paddlers for working on this statistic.

# From now on, unregistered paddlers may not take part in any WCCU events. So don’t be aggrieved after traveling all the way to the venue of an event, only to find that you may not take part in that race – you have been warned many times!.

# At the WCCU Special General Meeting held at the Paarl Canoe Club on Thursday evening, 29^th May, 2010, the financial statements for last season and the projections and budget for the forthcoming season were accepted by the quorum of WCCU members present. Thank you for turning out to make sure that this important meeting could be held in accordance with the WCCU Constitution.

# Confirmation of dates for the Swartland K1 Canoe Marathon, 2010, was made – see under Peninsula Canoe Club news section.

# A ‘Check-list’ on what needs to happen at any WCCU event/race being run by the local canoe clubs will soon be circulated to all clubs.

# The W.C.C.U. K1 Canoe Marathon team that will take part in the S.A. Canoe Marathon Championships, Keurbooms River, Plettenberg Bay on 12^th/13^th June is as follows:

Juniors.

U10 Girls – Rebecca Meihuizen (Prl).

U10 Boys – Kelvin Swanepoel, Thomas Pretorius, Dillon Mackey (all Prl)

U12 Girls – Bonita Adams, Jermain Gooiman, Justien Williams (all PRL)

U12 Boys – Christopher Swanepoel, Andreas Beukes, Peter Meihuizen. (all Prl)

U14 Girls -  Marine Beukes, Abigail Stubbs.(all Prl)

U14 Boys – David Meihuizen, Bradley Ruiters, Jason Minnaar (all PRL).

U16 Girls – She-Earl de Wee (PEL)

U16 Boys – Luke Stowman (PRL), Michael-Lee Farringer (Prl), Daniel-Louis Buys (Prl), Daniel Pretorius (Prl), Michael Pretorius (MIL)

U16 Girls – Melanie van Niekerk, Marisa Pretorius (all MIL)

U18 Boys – Ivan Kruger (MIL), Joseph Williams (PRL), Diviono Pietersen (PRL).

Seniors and Masters Categories..

U23 Men – Lance King (Mil), Pierre-Andre Rabie (Maties), Alasdair Glass (Pen).

U23 Women – Robyn Kime (Maties), Bianca Beavitt (Mil)

Senior Men – Lance King (Mil), Pierre-Andre Rabie (Maties), Graeme Solomon (Pen)

Senior Women – Robyn Kime (Maties), Bianca Beavitt (Mil), Lindi-May Harmse (Mil).

Sub Vets – Men – Graeme Solomon (Pen)

Vets – Men – Henri van der Merwe (Pen), Frohann Visser (Maties), Herbert Conradie (Paarl).

Vets – Women – Robyn Henderson (Mil).

Sub Masters – Men – Rob Hart (Pen), Johan Swart (EVP).

Sub Masters – Women – Lis Hart (Pen).

Masters – Daantjie Malan (Maties), Paul Lee (Pen), Paul Lange (Pen)

Sub Grandmasters – Rob MacLean (Pen), Shaun Butler (Pen), Andre Rabie (Paarl).

Grandmasters – Giel van Deventer (Paarl), Andre Collins (Mil), Roelof van Riet (Mil).

Super Grandmasters – Charles Melck (Mil)

# The W.C.C.U. K2 team’s for the same event will be announced after the W.C.C.U. K2 Canoe Marathon Championships, which will be held on Sunday, 30^th May, 2010.

Forthcoming WCCU canoeing events – 2010.

# Saturday 5^th June – the Viljoensdrift Wacky Wine Festival River Marathon, Starts @ 10h30.

Name of event:           Viljoensdrift Wacky Wine River Marathon

Date of event:             Saturday, 5 June 2010

Registration from:        09h00

Start time:                    10h30

Start Venue:                 Goree Weir

Finish:                           Vijoensdrift wine estate

Distance:                     28 km

More information:       www.wpcanoe.org.za (including directions)

Contact:                     Richard Kohler (cell number: 0832996569)Kevin Goodspeed(cell number:0825508209), Mandy Simpson (cell number: 083 264 8311)

# Saturday 19^th June – Swartland K1 Canoe Marathon, Berg River – Day1.

# Sunday 20^th June - Swartland K1 Canoe Marathon, Berg River – Day 2.

# Saturday 26^th June - Hermon-Gouda K1 – starts @ 10h00.

# Saturday 3^rd July – Wellington (Lady Loch Bridge) to Hermon – also WCCU K1 River Championships – starts @ 10h00.

( Note also that Franschhoek-Paarl, ‘Big Water’ races are scheduled for each Sunday in June (except on Sunday 20^th June, when the Swartland is being paddled). The decision to race will be taken by the host canoe club – Paarl - and will be circulated to all WCCU paddlers by SMS if and when the race will be paddled- Ed)

Other important paddling events

# World Cup Sprints (3) Duisburg, Germany, 5^th/6^th June.

# SA Marathon – WCCU –12^th/13^th June. Forever Resorts, Keurbooms River, Plettenberg Bay, E. Cape.

# Results.

See the W.C.C.U. website – www.wpcanoe.org.za for all the results and reports on recent W.C.C.U. races.

# Errata – the Dal Josephat-Lady Loch – 15^th May, 2010.

It was reported that at the recent Dal Josephat to Lady Loch race, that Rob Hart (Peninsula Canoe Club), had set a new record for this section of the Berg River.

This information was incorrect (as pointed out by the WCCU Statistician, Giel van Deventer - many thanks Giel for putting us right here), so Lance King’s record of 41 minutes 07 seconds, set in 2006, still stands.

However, your editor is of the opinion that Rob, paddling now as a Sub Master, probably holds the record for the Sub-Masters category over this section, as his time was terrific – so, although you don’t have ‘the record’, Rob, well done anyway on your 44 minutes plus some seconds.

(More is the reason to consult Giel’s excellent booklet ,’ Wes-Kaap Kano-Unie Statistiek, 1962 – 2009’. Ed)

# SA Schools Canoe Sprint Championships – news from Eric Farringer.

To summarize,  of the paddlers that Wayne August coached, i.e. Bridgehouse and the Development team,  a total of  20 medals (Development) and 38 (Bridgehouse –won the coed school trophy) were earned  for a total of 58 medals for the Paarl Club. This is out of a total of 216 possible or 27%.  If seen in the light that  Dabulamanzi has 800 members (and  most of the other clubs in a similar situation), this is a remarkable achievement.

Some highlights were Luke Stowman winning  7 medals of which 3 were gold and first over all U 16

 Josie Williams third overall U18, Justine Williams  first overall U12, She-Earl de Wee 4 medals, the Van der Westhuizen boys, Pierre, Luc and Jean - sweeping all  the gold’s for U12 and U8.  Kelvin Swanepoel U10 boys and Rebecca Meihuizen U10 girls both dominating with 3 gold’s and a silver.

The consensus of all participants and those that trained with us but were not part of the club was that for fitness and technique you can’t beat the Paarl Team. Well done boys and girls. Well done Wayne August. As Wayne told the team on arrival, “you will get out of this what you put in”. They put in a lot and it shows.

(Well done and congratulations, one-and-all. You have made the WCCU very proud of you. Congratulations as well to the coaches and parents of these paddlers for all your tireless support and encouragement Ed)..

News from the WCCU Clubs.

# Milnerton Canoe Club

1. Milnerton invites all paddlers who are tired of battling with the weed to come and try our Wednesday night time trial. Start at 18h15.

2. You are invited to Milnerton Canoe Club to watch the Super 14 final on Saturday.

Please extend our invitation to your friends.

The Super 14 will be shown on the big screen at the canoe club.

Club opens at 16h00.

Kick off at 17h00.

Bar will be open and drinks at ridiculously low club prices as always 

KevG and RichK will be your hosts behind bar.

Fires will be burning to keep you warm.

Support your team and wear their colours/face paint/etc.

Prize for the best dressed/painted supporter

# Peninsula Canoe Club

# Stellenbosch Canoe Club

Seasoned Matie paddler, Richard Fly, has announced his engagement – congratulations Richard! Does Latitia know about ‘canoeing widows, Rich’?

# Paarl Canoe Club.

Our thoughts are with Eric Farringer – last week, after inadvertently ‘taking a swim’ out of his canoe on the Berg River, whilst out on a training paddle, he ‘inadvertently’ swallowed some water. Now, if you’ve been following the articles in the previous (April) WCCU Newsletter as well as the numerous articles in our daily and weekly newspapers, you’ll know that the waters that we ply our sport upon are not the healthiest. Poor Eric found this out to his detriment and was seriously ill – in fact, seeing him after the Nelson’s Creek, Paarl-Skootjie race last Saturday morning, he looked decidedly on the ‘slim’ side! We’re glad that you are back on your feet Eric, but let this be a warning to all of us who are racing on our local rivers – if you fall out,

KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!

# Cape Town Surf Ski Club

1.)     3 of our Surf ski school pupils finished their first world cup in Durban.  Jean Tresfon, Andrew Broukaert and Kevin Brunette

2.)     The CAPE TOWN SURFSKI CLUB is now OFFICIAL!

  This is a brand new club that is sharing a facility with the Fish Hoek beach Sailing Club.  It is a wonderful facility with a lovely grass area, beautiful club house, ski storage and is right on the beach.  Any new members can email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for info. Or check out www.fhbsc.co.za for the application form.

3.)     THE PADDLING CENTRE GARMIN PROMOTION:  

Clinic and promotion.  We will be holding a Garmin “educational” on the 12 June. It’s for all the guys and girls out there that want to know how to properly use and train with their Garmin. So we will show you how to use it effectively and what it can really do for you.  There is also a Garmin promotion at The Paddling Centre:

Forerunner 305 - R2799.00, Forerunner 310XT - R4499.00, FR60 Watch - R1499.00

4.)  JANTEX PADDLES available at The Paddling Centre.  For all the serious paddlers out there. They are imported, original and beautiful!

5.)     THE ANCHOR CHALLENGE MULTIPSORT RACE - 11 DECEMBER.

On the 11 Dec 2010, there is an awesome new event happening on Fish Hoek beach that everyone should know about.  Its called the Anchor Challenge.  Its 4 separate events on 1 day and then your time (or your teams times) get added together for the over all “anchor man/women” prize.  It’s a 20km Mountain bike, 10 km surf ski, 1.5 km ocean swim, 12 km beach/wetland run.  So for all you adventure racers, tri athletes, swimmers, surf ski paddlers there is something new for all of you. The website will be launched at the beginning on June.

# Assistance for Beginners

For new paddlers who have been asking for some assistance in getting started.

# ‘5 Moves Ahead’ Canoe and Kayak Coaching

If you are a beginner or serious about competition ‘5 Moves Ahead’ canoe and kayak coaching school can put you ahead of the rest.  We offer a wide range of services including but not limited to: a beginner’s introduction to kayaking, flat-water and river proficiency programs, supervised group training sessions, personal coaching, mental preparation, and style assessment and coaching. 

For more detailed information please contact:  Greg van Heerden at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 082 940 9368

# At Milnerton Canoe Club – Contact Richard Kohler on 083 299 6569.

#At Peninsula Canoe Club

Flat water proficiency certificate programmes @ Peninsula C.C. on Zandvlei have started again–

Contact Sean Rice on 072 064 1249

River Proficiency – contact Rob MacLean on 082 496 8957 or email him This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

(Members of other clubs should contact their Chairpersons on this important issue).

# RIVER PROFICIENCIES.

It is strongly suggested that paddlers requiring River Proficiencies for the 2010 river season get them done before the river season starts (plus/minus May), because once the season begins, those experienced paddlers who made themselves available to conduct river proficiencies come under ‘groot druk’ to fit everything in – their own river racing as well as assisting novices (usually on Sundays). So, get hold of your club chairman/captains ASAP and find out who at your club does such things and book your place early to avoid possible future disappointment

W.C.C.U. website – download and print it if you are interested – which you should be! N.B. The C.S.A. Safety Booklet is now on the CSA website – it is really worth looking at.

QUALIFYING RULES

Proficiency and Race Qualification
New paddlers are required to complete the Flat-water Proficiency Test before being permitted to enter any race. They are then required to complete a minimum of three Flat-water races or club time trials before completing the River Proficiency Test.
The three Flat-water races or dices may be replaced by trips co-ordinated by the paddler's club Safety Officer. This is to be done at the discretion of, and under the strict control of, the signing Safety Officer.
Once the paddler has passed the River Proficiency test they will become CBR rated and permitted to enter both C and B Class River races.
The paddler will then be required to complete six C or B Class river races within 175%, or a lower percentage to be decided upon by the Union Safety Officer, of winner’s time before attaining an AR rating and being permitted to enter A Class River races.
All testing is to be done by the Club or Union Safety Officers or their designated assistants. The tests, as set out in the CSA Safety Booklet (and WCCU handbooks), are to be strictly adhered to and conducted in a formal and responsible manner.
The Safety Officers signing the CBR proficiency must inform the new paddlers that it is advisable to do a balance of events, graded from easy to difficult, through the 6 races prior to the attaining of an AR rating. They should explain the dangers of B and A rivers and the need to learn progressively on increasingly more difficult stretches of river. Paddlers should try not to rely only on easy C grade stretches for qualification and it is strongly recommended that paddlers do some B river races as part of their 6 river- qualification events.
AR rated paddlers must have completed a minimum of three A Class races before being permitted to enter A+ Class races.

A paddler will never loose their AR rating. After an absence of three years a CBR rated paddler will loose their race credits and have to complete all six C or B class races again before attaining an AR rating.
In these rules the front and back paddlers in a K2 are treated equally. Only whole races count not each leg separately.

The 10x rule introduced in March 2009.

So long as they have passed their River Proficiency Test a novice paddler may take part in an A Class River Race without any further qualifying races so long as they race only in the back of a K2 where the pilot of the boat has completed the race being entered at least 10 times. Races entered and completed in this way will count as qualifying events in the normal way for the novice paddler involved.

Smalls

Your contributions are welcomed! Whatever you’d like to sell paddling-wise – please send to this section of YOUR newsletter.

# WANTED – 2^nd hand double ski – contact Heleen Rossouw on 082 445 6648.

# For Sale -  K2 Predator – orange, good condition with pumps. R3000. Boat is at the Stellenbosch Canoe Club. Contact Michael ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 0722108604).

# WANTED - 2nd hand sprint K1 for 11 year old girl(Preferably Bako, Nelo or Vajda or similar).

Please call Pieter at 082 8789 234 or at 021 914 1840(work)

FOR SALE - Manta (white) in excellent condition (3 river races only) R3750

Please call Pieter at 082 8789 234 or at 021 914 1840(work)

# Paddle Zone – white water paddling specialists. They have all the gear, kit and boats that you need for w/w kayaking. (They also have good second hand kayaks at excellent prices).

View it all at their display shop at 21 Selous Road, Claremont, Cape Town.

Phone 021- 683 1159.  

# Orange River Winter Special:

4 day, 5 night Orange River Gorge trip: R2 395.00 pp – escape the Cape winter and enjoy sunny days and endless starry skies on the Orange these holidays with Gravity River Adventures. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ,go to their website or phone Sonja or Marie-Louise at 021 683 3698

(Your contributions are welcomed! Whatever canoeing kit that you have and that you’d like to sell, advertise it here (for free!) or if you are looking for something in particular, ask here. Ed).

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Items of Canoeists Interest.

# Congratulations to Pete and Alexa (Lombard) Cole on the birth of

Jarad Cole on 24^th May, 2010 and weighing in at 3.8 kg.

Mother and son well. Dad handing out cigars!

# STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF CANOEING SOUTH AFRICA

1) The Appeal Committee have now released their reasons for reducing Hank McGregor’s sentence which are briefly as follows;

1. They believed that Hank was genuinely remorseful about what he had done.
2. Hank pleaded guilty to the charge, never disputed the facts and in evidence before the committee, repeated his remorse,
3. There was a measure of provocation which does not justify the assault, but is a mitigating factor.
4. Jacques suffered no injuries as a result of the assault which consisted of a number of wild punches which either struck Jacques` helmet or life jacket.
5. Hank has a clean disciplinary record and he is dealt with as a first offender.
6. On the other hand, Hank is an icon and should be setting an example to others.  His actions while competing should be beyond reproach.
7. The reason why the Appeal Committee differed from the disciplinary committee was the amount of money that Hank would lose for being out of the sport.  If his suspension of 6 months was upheld, he would have lost an income of between R100, 000 to R150, 000. A suspension for a 2 month period would have been equal to a loss of up to R37, 000.
8. The Appeal Committee found that had Hank been charged with assault in the Magistrates Court, he would have received a fine of a few hundred rand or even a caution and a discharge.
9. For the reasons as set out above, the Appeal Committee handed down a penalty of 2 months suspension.

Those then are the reasons as handed down by the Appeal Committee.  What many of our canoeists still however do not seem to understand, is that once the Appeal Committee had been appointed, the CSA Board’s powers came to an end.  The Appeal Committee is an independent body who hears the evidence and then comes to a decision.  Neither the CSA Board nor any other person or body of persons can dictate to this Committee what they should decide and for what reasons.  Their decision has now been made and the matter is final.

2) Dope Hearing:

The 2^nd day of the dope hearing came to an end on Monday, 10^th May 2010.  Due to certain new evidence being led by the Athlete, CSA have reserved the right to recall any experts should they deem it necessary to do so.  This will be done by the end of this week.  Should CSA not exercise their right to recall experts, both parties will lodge their arguments and the disciplinary committee will come to a decision.

In the event that the disciplinary committee hands out a ruling which falls out of the Anti-doping rules guidelines without substantive reasons, then the South African Institute of Drug Free Sport, The World Anti Doping Association or the International Canoeing Federation may appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration in Sport based in Lausanne.  They then will hear the matter and either confirm or amend the disciplinary Committees decision.  In the meantime, the canoeist remains banned from taking part in any race until this matter has been finalized.

If I seem to harp too much on the abovementioned two unpleasant matters, it is due to the many e-mails that I receive from members accusing the CSA Board for condoning Hank’s behaviour or of sweeping the drug issue “under the carpet.”  Please be assured that neither accusation is true and the Board are taking all the steps that they are empowered to take to protect the interests of their canoeists.

Naas Fischer

President

Canoeing South Africa

# Publications

“Stroom af in my Kano – Avontuur of vyf riviere in Suider-Afrika”

Author: Willem van Riet. ISBN 0 624 007 677. Published by Tafelberg, 1966.

This is an iconic book on paddling in South Africa by a canoeing icon (who is still out there paddling and is aiming to compete in and compete ‘The Berg’, again in 2010), Willem van Riet.

Every paddler in South Africa should read this book which describes the authors paddling adventures at a time when it was but a new sport in the country; when equipment was pitiful; when paddlers had to make do by making their own craft and equipment because there simply wasn’t anything available for sale.

It is now out of print, but it will be a worthwhile ‘trawl’ for any paddler, to work through the various 2^nd hand bookshops around. Also, because as this book was an Afrikaans set-book in schools, thousands would have been printed and surely some (many?) will have survived?

You will not be disappointed by Willem’s story – and he tells it in the manner in which he would speak to one on the river bank – conversationally, easily and with a dry humour that is present throughout. His insight into the areas into which he travelled, alone or with paddling partners is excellent and thought-provoking as he paddled these (and other rivers) at a time when it was difficult to arrange back-up. In hindsight, one could state that his approach was naïve – I would argue this and say, no, somewhat foolhardy at times perhaps, but in the manner of all young men, brave and bold and willing to learn from the great teacher that nature is.

# ‘Wes-Kaap Kano-Unie Statistiek boek, 1962 – 2009’, by Giel van Deventer.

This is a fascinating read and the accumulation of stats. in it by Giel are remarkable.

Where can you get one? Contact your canoe club Chairman – he’ll have a good idea or a couple of spare copies. If you are a WCCU paddler, do yourself a favour and get a copy – it will give you hours of fascinating insight into this amazing sport of ours in the Cape.

Eskimo Rolls!

# The above cartoon is quite appropriate with Gouda-Bridgetown being the race this coming weekend – is this how you feel when you have decided to shoot Black Rock Rapid and as you drop into it, see a ‘pick-up-sticks’ of K1’s at the first bend?

Alphabet Soup!

ADULT:  A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing
in the middle.

BEAUTY PARLOR: A place where women curl up and dye.

CANNIBAL:  Someone who is fed up with people.

CHICKENS:   The only animals you eat before they are born and after they
are dead.

COMMITTEE: A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.

DUST: Mud with the juice squeezed out.

EGOTIST: Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation.

HANDKERCHIEF: Cold Storage.

INFLATION: Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.

MOSQUITO: An insect that makes you like flies better.

RAISIN: Grape with a sunburn.

SECRET: Something you tell to one person at a time.

SKELETON: A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.

TOOTHACHE: The pain that drives you to extraction.

TOMORROW: One of the greatest labour saving devices of today.

YAWN: An honest opinion openly expressed.

WRINKLES: Something other people have, similar to my character lines.

Have a good month – see you on the water!

Rob MacLean

Media Liaison – W.C.C.U.